NEW YORK- Verizon's fleet will continue to expand this year as part of the company's new comprehensive sustainability program, which contains several new initiatives and enhances existing efforts.

Verizon plans to add 1,600 alternative energy vehicles to the company fleet. The company is purchasing more than 1,100 alternative energy vehicles, including hybrid and compressed natural gas-powered aerial bucket trucks and vans, and hybrid pickup trucks and sedans. Verizon will also increase its use of biodiesel and flex-fuel (E-85) to power 470 vehicles. New hybrid aerial bucket trucks replace the diesel generators used in conventional trucks of this type with batteries that can be recharged by the vehicle.

These initiatives are in addition to a number of sustainability initiatives announced last year. In 2009, the company reduced its CO2 emissions by more than 793 million lbs., while improving its rate of emissions per million dollars in revenue to 60.2 metric tons of CO2 in 2009, from 64.4 metric tons in 2008.

Drivers of Verizon vehicles conserved 1.7 million gallons of fuel in 2009 as part of the company's continuing efforts to reduce engine idling, the equivalent of taking 2,800 cars off the road for a year, according to TriplePundit.com.

Verizon also operates a fuel cell-powered switching center in Garden City, Long Island, which saves energy and also improves network reliability in the event of a utility blackout. The facility earned the DOE Energy Star Award in 2008.